Letter to OHCHR re enforced disappearances in Asia

Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances Rms. 310311 Philippine Social Science Center Building Commonwealth Avenue, Diliman, 1103 Quezon City Telefax 004324546759 Telephone Number 0O{32427t15!X Mobile UJ534777924055 Email [email protected] website www.afad-online.org Bangkok, Thailand 26 November 20ll MRS. NAVI PILLAY High Commissioner for Human Rights Office ofthe High Commission for Human Rights Her Excellency Navi Pillay, Wann greetings! The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD), a regional federation of human rights organizations directly working on enforced disappearances fiom Bangladesh, krdia, Indonesia, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor Leste would like to congrahrlate you for your great contribution to the protection of human rights. Our Federation is also the Focal Point of the International Enforced Disappearances (ICAED), which is a global coalition of 40 member-organizations campaigning for the ratification of the Intemational Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances (the Convention). As we are concluding our 201 1 Council meeting, we deem it appropriate to address you with regard the scourge of enfolced disappearances in our region. As we all know, such violations continue to take place tlroughout the continent affecting thousands of people and their families. As underlined by the LJN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances in its last annual repor! Asia has submined thahighest number ofcases. On this occasion, may we call on you to continue devoting particular attention to the Asian region and to spend your effort to tackle the phenomenon of enforced disappearance, establishing the truth on the fate and whereabouts of the disappeared and gurantee redress to victims and their families. Corollary to tlis, may we call your attention to the 2009 Report of the International People's Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice, entitled: " Buried Evidence: A Report on Unknown, Unmarked and Mass Graves in Indian Administered Kashmir," which concems 2,700 graves that contain 2,930 remains of victims of human rights violations, which might belong to those who disappeared. This report was submitted to ths UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappemances in March 2010. The AFAD appeals on you to reiterate fte crucial importance of States to seriously engage in the fight against impunity and enforce by all means their obligation to investigate, prosecute and sanction those responsible for enforced disappearance and serious international crimes. The AFAD urges you to call on all Asian States to ratfy and fully implement the Convention and to recognize the competence of the Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) pursuant to Articles 31 and 32 of the Convention.

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8/3/2019 Letter to OHCHR re enforced disappearances in Asia

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Asian Federation Against Involuntary DisappearancesRms. 310311 Philippine Social Science Center BuildingCommonwealth Avenue, Diliman, 1103 Quezon City PhilippinesTelefax 004324546759 Telephone Number 0O{32427t15!X Mobile UJ534777924055Email [email protected] website www.afad-online.org

Bangkok, Thailand

26 November 20ll

MRS. NAVI PILLAYHigh Commissioner for Human Rights

Office ofthe High Commission for Human Rights

Her Excellency Navi Pillay,

Wann greetings!

The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD), a regional federation ofhuman rights organizations directly working on enforced disappearances fiom Bangladesh, krdia,Indonesia, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor Leste would like to congrahrlate you foryour great contribution to the protection of human rights. Our Federation is also the Focal Point ofthe International Coalition Against Enforced Disappearances (ICAED), which is a global coalition of40 member-organizations campaigning for the ratification of the Intemational Convention for the

Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances (the Convention). As we are concluding our201 1 Council meeting, we deem it appropriate to address you with regard to the scourge of enfolceddisappearances in our region. As we all know, such violations continue to take place tlroughout thecontinent affecting thousands of people and their families. As underlined by the LJN Working Groupon Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances in its last annual repor! Asia has submined thahighestnumber ofcases.

On this occasion, may we call on you to continue devoting particular attention to the Asian regionand to spend your effort to tackle the phenomenon of enforced disappearance, establishing the truthon the fate and whereabouts of the disappeared and gurantee redress to victims and their families.

Corollary to tlis, may we call your attention to the 2009 Report of the International People's

Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice, entitled: " Buried Evidence: A Report on Unknown,Unmarked and Mass Graves in Indian Administered Kashmir," which concems 2,700 graves thatcontain 2,930 remains of victims of human rights violations, which might belong to those whodisappeared. This report was submitted to ths UN Working Group on Enforced or InvoluntaryDisappemances in March 2010.

The AFAD appeals on you to reiterate fte crucial importance of States to seriously engage in thefight against impunity and enforce by all means their obligation to investigate, prosecute and sanctionthose responsible for enforced disappearance and serious international crimes.

The AFAD urges you to call on all Asian States to ratfy and fully implement the Convention andto recognize the competence of the Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) pursuant toArticles 31 and 32 of the Convention.